Phonograph motor device



- Nov. 11, 1958 J. L. D. MORRISON 2,859,632

PHONOGRAPH MOTOR DEVICE Filed March 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l I F /G.4 i34 r I 32 I so 0 '1, c 2a a A 24 INVENTOR.

JAMES L. D. MORRISON ATTORNE Y5 Nov. 11, 1958 J. L. D. MORRISON2,859,632

PHONOGRAPH MOTOR DEVICE Filed March 29, 1954 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. JAMES L. D. MORRISON AT TORNE YS United States PatentO if2,859,632 PHONOGRAPH oron DEVICE James L. D. Morrison, Benton Harbor,Mich., assignor to V-M Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich., a corporationof Michigan Application March 29, 1954, Serial No. 419,520

Claims. (Cl. 74-199) culties have been experienced in obtaining a speedchange in the mechanism which will provide 16 revolutions per minute foroperating the relatively new slow speed record discs. Further, adifficulty well-known to users of phonographs is the fact that after acertain periodof time the mechanism becomes worn and damaged from use.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide aphonograph mechanism which will materially remedy the aforesaiddeficiencies and others well known to the art.

. It is another object of this invention to provide a phonograph drivingmechanism which is foolproof in operation, more durable than prior artdevices, and is completely reliable and positive in its operation.

' It is another object of this invention to provide a combinationspeed-changing and driving mechanism which is easily converted from 50to 60-cycle operation or vice versa. v v

- It is yetanot her object of this invention to provide in such amechanism an arrangement for obtaining by mere simple manualmanipulation a turntable speed of 16-R. P. M., this particular speedbeing in addition to the selectable speeds of 33, 45 and 78-R. P. M. v

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above; and related objects, my inventionmay be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that specific change may be made in the. specificconstructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

In the drawings: i

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment'of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation; p 'Fig. 3 is a perspective illustration ofone part; *Fig. 4 'is a fragmental sectional illustration of asubassembly of the foregoing embodiment showing a portion of theturntable in section; v

Fig. 5 is a'perspective illustration of another sub-assembly; v I Fig. 6is a side elevation of still another sub-assembly in part section; and vFig. 7 is a top view of the sub-assembly of Fig. 6 with certain portionsbeing broken away for clarity of illustration.

7 2,859,632 Patented Nov. 11, 1958 Referring to the drawings, astationary main frame 10 preferably is stamped from sheet metal into theshape shown and formed with laterally opposite depending bracket ears 12(Fig. 2). This frame 10 is formed with a number of slots and apertureswhich will be described in proper order in the following in connectionwith other parts of the assembly.

A second frame, characterized as a motor frame or platform 14, ismovable relative to the frame 10 and is also preferably stamped fromflat sheet metal stock and formed with laterally opposite dependingmounting ears 16. Parallelogram mounting links are pivotally secured tothe respective frame ears 12 and 16 on both sides of the assembly topermit movement of the frame 14 relative to the frame 10 but to restrictthis movement in substantially a rectilinear or translatory direction.An electric motor of conventional type and design, indicated generallyby the reference numeral 20, is fixedly mounted on the platform 14 byany suitable means and has the usual rotary shaft 22 which is arrangedsubstantially vertically. On the end of this vertical shaft 22 is adrive spindle, generally indicated by the reference numeral 24, whichspindle is formed with stepped diameter portions A, B, C and D whichrepresent, respectively, the speeds of 78, 45, 33 and 16-R. P. M.

The arrangement thus far described comprises essentially the main frame10 and the movable motor assembly 20, theparallelogram connectinglinkage 18 serving to restrictthe relative motion between the twostructures in a substantial rectilinear direction. The importance ofthis feature will become apparent from the following description.Operatively carried by the mainframe 10 is an idler wheel 26 (Figs. 4and 5) having two different diameter portions 28 and 30, respectively.As seen in Fig. 4, the diameter portion 30 is in the form of a drivinghub which frictionally engages the depending skirt 32 of a conventionalphonograph turntable 34. As is accomplished conventionally, rotation ofthe idler wheel 26 causes rotation of the turntable 34. Also as will beseen in Fig. 4, the idler disc 28 is driveably engaged with the motorspindle 24.

An idler arm-carrying assembly, indicated generally by the referencenumeral 36, serves to pivotally mount the idler 26 on the main frame 10,this mount being about a vertical pivot pin assembly indicated by thetwo reference numerals 38 and 40 respectively. The pivot 40 is comprisedof an upright pin fixedly secured to the mounting frame 10 whichswingably supports a linking arm 42 similarly pivotally connected at itsother end to provide the pivot 38. This pivot 38 is comprised of anupright pm which is secured to a bracket carrier 41 particularly shapedwith an elbow and bent portions, as will be seen more clearly in Figs.1, 2 and 5. This carrier 41 is formed with two horizontal portions 43and 44 and two vertical portions 46 and 48, respectively. The horizontalportion 43 is in the shape of a bent elbow with the distal end beingprovided with a vertical pivot pin 50 for rotatably supporting the idler26. The vertical portion 46 connects the two horizontal parts 43 and 44,the part 44 being also formed in the shape of a bent elbow with thedistal end terminating in the vertical abutment 48. This abutment 48 isset at an angle as illustrated and its function will be explained inmore detail hereinafter.

In order to maintain the idler 26 in operative engagement with thespindle 24, a coiled tension spring 52 I connects between the main frame10 and the bracket 3 tially of three major assemblies: the main frame10, the movable motor and spindle 20, 24, and the idler 26 which ismovable into and out of engagement with the motor spindle 24. I

Continuing with the description, the remaining portions of the mechanismmay beconsidered a s con tp tuting the operating assemblage which servesto the relative positions of the idler wheel 26 with respect to thedriving spindle 24 such that an operator may selectively causeengagement of theidler 2.6 with any one of the spindle parts A, B, CorD, For moving the idler 26 out of engagement with the spindle24,alever, which may be characterized as the idler-releasing lever 54, ispivoted to the main frame 10 at 56 intermediate its ends (Fig. 5). Oneend 58jslidab1y engages the idler arm abutment 48 such that swinging thelever 54 counter-clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5 will serve to pushthe idler 26 away from the spindle 24 about the pivot support 38, 40. Acoiled compression spring 60 is interposed between the frame'ltl andtheend 62 of the lever 54, urging'the lever clockwise so as to permitthe spring 52 to maintain the idler 28 into driving en-, gagement withthe spindle 24. It will now be seen that by operating this lever 54, thewheel'26 may be swung away from the spindle 24 sufficiently far topermit vertical movement of the spindle 24 to place a larger diameterportion into engaging relationship with the wheel.

The mechanism for selectively operating the lever 54 whenever it isdesired to change speeds is'comprised of an indexing slide 64 which ispreferably formed out of flat sheet metal to a shape illustrated moreclearly in Figs. 1, 2, 6' and 7. This slide 64 is provided on itsright-hand end with a button or slide retainer 66 which fits into anelongated slot 68 in the main frame to permit reciprocal movement of theslide 64 but yet retain the slide against either vertical or lateralmovement. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the slide 64 is moved to theextreme right-hand end of the slot 68, and in Figs. 6 and 7 it itwithdrawn to about the center.

As viewed in Figs. 1 and 7, the lower lateral edge of the indexingslide64 is provided with a cam surfaceindicated generally by thereference numeral" 70. This cam surface is comprised of'spaced alternatevalleys and crests which correspond respectively to the four differentspeeds 16, 33, 45 and 78 R. P. M.s. The valleys of this cam surfacecorrespond to engagement of the wheel 26 with the spindle 24 and areindicated by the reference symbols A ,B C jand D respectively, toindicate the relationship o'f-these valleys with the respective spindle24 diameters A,'B, C and D.

This cam surface 70 slidably contacts a depending cam detent or follower72 (Figs. '1 and 5) on lever 54 such that, for example, as the indexingslide 64 is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. l, the detent 72 willbe forced onto the adjacent crestsuch that the lever 54 will be swungcounterclockwise sufficiently to throw the idler 26 out of engagementand interfering relationship with the spindle 24. The spindle 24 maythereupon be moved either upwardly or downwardly in o'rderto place adif-. ferent diameter portion in registry with the idler 26 perimeter.Continued movement to the left of the slide 64 will allow the detent 72to fall into the next adjacent valley C which permits the idler 26 toswing counterclockwise into contact with the spindle 24. Furtherleftward advancement of the slide 64 causes a repetition of thisswinging movement of the idler 26 so as to bring the idler into contactwith the respective diameter portions of the spindle 24.

The indexing slide 64 is utilized for an additional function, i. e., toraise and lower the motor assembly during the time the idler 26 is beingshifted. Thisuis mounting flange 76 for attachment to the motor frame14. The cam portion of this plate 74 is vertically arranged to passthrough a clearance slot 78 formed in the main frame 10. This clearanceslot 78 permits reciprocation of the cam plate 74 through the main frame10, as will be clear from a reference to the drawings. Fig. 6 isparticularly illustrative of this feature of operation. This plate 74 isprovided with a cam slot 80 which is of stair-stepped configuration withcam inclines 82 connecting the horizontal surfaces indicated b'y'thereference symbols A B C and D These reference symbols correspond to thedifferent speed diameters of the spindle 24 bearing the referenceletters A, B, C and D, respectively.

A cam follower projection 84 laterally extends from the right-hand endof the slide 64 through the cam plate slot 80 (see Fig. 7). It will nowbe seen that reciprocatory motion of slide 64 will serve to raise andlower the cam plate 7.4, and, consequently, the motor frame 14, withrespect to the main frame 10.

With particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2, with the slide 64 moved toits extreme right-hand position, the motor frame 14 and spindle 24 aredepressed to the lower-most position. In such position, the spindleportion D is in driving. engagement with the idler 26 to provide the16-R. P. M. speed mentioned earlier. The slide projection 84 is inengagement with the step D of cam slott and the lever detent 72 is inengagement with the indexing cam valley D (Fig. 1).

Moving the slide 64 to the left serves to cause engagement of the slideprojection 84 with the cam slot ineline 82 and the detent 72 with thecrest adjacent the cam valley D As this happens, the idler 26 is swungout of eng agement with the spindle 24 and the motor frame 14 as well asthe motor 20 and spindle 24 are raised. When the slide projection 84registers with the next lower step C of the cam slot 80, the leverdetent 72 falls into the indexing valley C With the projection 84registered with the step C the spindle portion C will be positioned inengaging relation with the idler 26. With the detent 72 nested in thecam valley C the spring 52 will draw the-idler 26 into engagement withthe spindle portion C. Successive leftward movement of the indexingslide 64 will cause engaging registry of the idler 26 with the-spindleportions B and A, respectively, such that it is now apparent that merereciprocal movement of the indexing slide 64 will serve to select anyone of the spindle surfaces A, B, C or D for operative engagement withthe idler 26. This selective engagement may, of course, be characterizedas turntable speed-changing.

In order to provide a convenient control selectively for reciprocatingthe indexing slide 64, a speed selector shaft 86 is pivotally mounted inan .upright position on the left end of the main frame 10. A speedselector arm 88 is secured to the bottom end of this shaft 86 forrotation therewith and is pivotally connected at its distal end to theslide 64 by means of a rivet or the like 90.-

A'suitable control knob, such as those used on radios, may be mounted onthe ,shaft-;86..for swinging the arm 88 and for selectivelyreciprocating the slide 64. Thus, if an operator desires for theturntable to rotate at l6-R. P. M., it is only necessary to turn theknob mounting shaft 86 to the corresponding 16-R. P. M. position.

Briefly summarizing, it will nowbe apparent that the rotation of theknob mounting shaft 86 serves to cause two distinct mechanismoperations: (a) the raising and lowering of the spindle 24 and (b) theretraction of the idler 26.

As mentioned earlier as. an object of this invention, it was stated thatthe present invention was easily adapted to either-50 or 60-cycle poweroperation. Essentially, the only thing required for converting from onefrequency of electrical power to another is the changing of the size oftheidlerwheel 26... However,one dimension which must be kept constant inany eventis the.

one indicated by the reference letter .X in Fig. 4. By way of example,for SO-cycle operation the diameter of the hub 30 of the idler 26 shouldbe 0.750 inch and the diameter of the disc 28should be 1.490 inches. For60-cycle operation, the diameter of hub 30 should be 0.770 inch and thediameter, of the part 28 should be 1.670 inches.

What is claimed is: l

1. A phonograph'motor assembly comprising a first supporting member, asecond supporting member, a motor mounted on said second member, arotary shaft carried by said motor, first means movably interconnectingsaid members, said first means comprising pivoted lever elements whichretain said shaft in' one spatial attitude only, said means furtherincluding second means for moving said first and second members relativeto each other, a driven member operatively carried by said first memberand operatively engageable with said rotary shaft for certainpredetermined relative positions of said first and second members, and avariable'speed driving element on said shaft having separated differentspeed portions, each portion selectively being operatively engageablewith said driven member upon correspondingly changing therelativepositions of said first and second members. 1

2. A phonograph motor assembly-comprising a first supporting member, asecond supporting member, a motor mounted on said second member, arotary shaft carried bysaid motor, first means movably interconnectingsaid members, said first means comprising a motionlimiting linkagepivotally connected between said first and second members for retainingsaid shaft in one spatial attitude only, said means further includingsecond means for moving said first and second members relative to eachother, a driven member operatively carried by said first member andoperatively engageable with said rotary shaft for any relative positionof said first and second members, and a stepped diameter driving spindlerotatably carried by said shaft, the different diameter portions of saidspindle being selectively engageable with said driven member uponselective relative movement of said first and second members.

3. A phonograph motor assembly comprising a main frame, a motor frame, aparallelogram connecting linkage for movably connecting said framestogether, a motor mounted on said motor frame and having a drive shaft,said linkage being disposed to retain the spatial attitude of said shaftsubstantially regardless of relative movement between said frames, astepped diameter drive spindle carried by said shaft, an idler wheeloperatively carried by said main frame, an arm'pivotally mounted on saidmain frame and rotatably carrying said wheel, said spindle engaging saidwheel, and means partially carried by said main frame having anoperative connection with said motor frame for selectively moving thelatter relative to said main frame whereby different diameter portionsof said spindle may be moved into engagement with said wheel.

4. A phonograph motor assembly comprising a main frame, a motor frame, aparallelogram connecting linkage for movably connecting said framestogether, a motor mounted on said motor frame and having a drive shaft,said linkage being disposed to retain the spatial attitude of said shaftsubstantially regardless of relative movement between said frames, astepped diameter drive spindle carried by said shaft, an idler wheeloperatively carried by said main frame, an arm pivotally mounted on saidmain frame and rotatably carrying said wheel, said spindle engaging saidwheel, a slide member mounted for reciprocation on said main frame, andcam means interconnecting said slide member and said motor frame andoperative upon reciprocation of said slide member to produce relativemotion of both frames.

5. A phonograph motor assembly comprising a main frame, a motor frame, aparallelogram connecting linkage for movably connecting said framestogether, a motor mounted on said motor frame and having a drive shaft,said linkage being disposed to retain the spatial attitude of said shaftsubstantially regardless of relative movement between said frames, astepped diameter drive spindle carried by said shaft, an idler wheeloperatively carried by said main frame, an arm pivotally mounted on saidmain frame and rotatably carrying said wheel, said spindle engaging saidwheel, a slide member mounted for reciprocation on said main frame, acam plate secured to said motor frame and having a stepped cam slot, anda cam follower on said slide member engageable with said slot, saidfollower and slot being so constructed that both frames may be moved indiscrete successive steps relative to each other whereby the differentdiameter portions on said spindle can be selectively engaged with saidwheel upon reciprocal movement of said slide member.

6. A phonograph motor assembly comprising a main frame, a motor frame, aparallelogram connecting linkage for movably connecting said framestogether, a motor mounted on said motor frame and having a drive shaft,said linkage being disposed to retain the spatial attitude of said shaftsubstantially regardless of relative movement between said frames, astepped diameter drive spindle carried by said shaft, an idler wheeloperatively carried by said main frame, an arm pivotally mounted on saidmain frame and rotatably carrying said wheel, said spindle engaging saidwheel, a slide member mounted for reciprocation on said main frame, acam plate secured to said motor frame and having a stepped cam slot, acam follower on said slide member engageable with said slot, saidfollower and slot being so constructed that both frames may be moved indiscrete successive steps relative to each other whereby the differentdiameter portions on said spindle can be selectively engaged with saidwheel upon reciprocal movement of said slide member, said slide memberhaving a cam surface, and an operating lever pivotally mounted on saidmain frame and operatively engaging said arm for selectively moving thelatter into and out of engagement with said spindle, and a cam followeron said lever engaging said slide cam surface which serves to swing saidlever upon movement of said slide member.

7. A phonograph motor assembly comprising a main frame, a motor frame, aparallelogram connecting linkage for movably connecting said framestogether, a motor mounted on said motor frame and having a drive shaft,said linkage being disposed to retain the spatial attitude of said shaftsubstantially regardless of relative movement between said frames, astepped diameter drive spindle carried by said shaft, an idler wheeloperatively carried by said main frame, an arm pivotally mounted on saidmain frame and rotatably carrying said wheel, said spindle engaging saidwheel, a slide member mounted for reciprocation on said main frame, acam plate secured to said motor frame and having a stepped cam slot, acam follower on said slide member engageable with said slot, saidfollower and slot being so constructed that both frames may be moved indiscrete successive steps relative to each other whereby the differentdiameter portions on said spindle can be selectively engaged with saidwheel upon reciprocal movement of said slide member, said slide memberhaving a cam surface, and an operating lever pivotally mounted on saidmain frame and operatively engaging said arm for selectively moving thelatter into and out of engagement with said spindle, a cam follower onsaid lever engaging said slide cam surface which serves to swing saidlever upon movement of said slide member, and a spring connected to saidarm yiel'dably urging said wheel into engagement with said spindle.

8. A phonograph motor assembly comprising a frame, a motor having astepped pulley operatively connected 7 thereto, an idler pulley, a leverpivotally mounted on said frame and including means for rotatablysupporting said idler pulley for movement ina given plane, a movablesupport coupled between said frame and said motor for supporting. saidstepped pulley in operative relation to said idler pulley and forpermitting and restricting move ment of said motor and stepped pulley ina plane at right angles to the plane of movement of said idler pulley,and control means mounted on saidv frameincluding a cam andfolloweroperatively associated with said idler Wheel supporting member andanothercam and follower means operatively associated with said motorsupport for simultaneously moving saidiidler wheel toward or away fromsaid stepped pulley and for moving saidstepped pulley in its plane ofmovement, thereby to engage and disengage said idler wheel withdifferent steps on said stepped pulley.

9 A phonograph motor assembly comprising a frame, a motor. having astepped'pulley operatively connected thereto, an idler pulley, meansmounted on said frame for rotatably supporting said idler' pulley formovement in a given plane, a movable support coupled between said frameand said motor for supporting said 'stepped pulley in operative relationto said idler pulley and for permitting restricting movement of saidmotor and stepped pulley in .a plane at right angles to the plane ofmovement of said idler pulley, and control means mounted on said frameand ,operatively associated with said idler wheel supporting means andwith said motor support for simultaneously moving said idler wheeltoward or away from said stepped pulley and for moving saidsteppedjpulley inits plane of' movement, thereby to engage andldisengage said idler wheel. with different stepson said stepped pulley.

10. A phonograph motor assembly comprising a frame, a stepped drivingpulley, an idler pulley, means mounted o n said frame for mtatablysupporting said idler pulley for movement in a giv n plane, a movablesupport coupledfibetween said frame and said driving pulley forsupportingjit in operative relation to said idler pulley iarrcl lforpermitting and restricting movement of said" driving pulley in a planeat right angles to the plane of movement of said idler-pulley, andcontrol means 15 mounted on said frame and'operativelyassociated withsaid idler wheel supporting mernber and with said driving pulley:supportfor simultaneously moving said idler wheel toward oraway from,said driving pulley and for moving said drivingpulley-in its' plane ofmovement, thereby to engage and disengage said idler wheel withdifferent t p .01 a d' ri in pu yt References ,Citedintlie-file of thispatent

